rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 4, 2024 13:00:59 GMT
While we have previously played Enfield in the FA cup back in 1994, this Enfield is a fan owned club formed in 2001 (said to be the first) and therefore a completely new team that we welcome to Plainmoor on Saturday. They finished third in the isthmian premier last time out gaining promotion through the playoffs. Marcus Wyllie was the top scorer both for them and in the league last year scoring 31 league goals, but has recently transferred to Gillingham. They have brought in a number of players with National League experience, including four just last Friday. Their pre season campaign has been a little difficult sustaining a number of injuries so will be difficult to know what team they will start with but it is a side with a winning mentality and will be highly motivated particularly coming to a league standard ground with a big opening day crowd of hopefully 4000+. I know that there are already not many tickets left in Bristow’s B to E blocks.
Paul Wotton talked about making tough choices in his team selection and we do have lots of competition for places in most positions. Defense is probably the easiest area to call and I suspect Hamon will be in goal with Dreyer, Dyer and Foulston in defense and Carson and Tonks as Wingbacks. Threlkeld will be playing if fit, suspect Mussa will be too leaving Hayfield, Hasani and Collins fighting over the final midfield place.
Quite difficult to call which two strikers will be starting, think Ash and Seymour are too similar to play together so perhaps Cooke will start and partner one of these two. Problem with Crosbie getting that injury early on is he is perhaps a little undercooked, but scored his first goal on Saturday and would not be surprised if he plays a greater part in the team as the season progresses.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Aug 9, 2024 19:20:50 GMT
Wonnacott (no 2 keeper) joins Tivvi on loan 🤔
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Post by stig123 on Aug 9, 2024 21:12:54 GMT
Does that mean we won't have a keeper on the bench?
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Post by plainmoorpete on Aug 9, 2024 22:33:52 GMT
I wonder if this has anything to do with the new ruling that teams can make up to five substitutions during the game, giving Wotton the opportunity to use all five outfield subs.
It's a calculated risk. How often are goalies actually substitute during games? If we have an outfield player who fancies a go in goal it might be worth it. Wonnacot has a recall clause.
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Post by stewart on Aug 10, 2024 0:36:46 GMT
I haven't attended a match for several years owing to declining health, but I still take a keen interest in the team's fortunes. As the new season is almost upon us, my thoughts keep going back to 2007, when Paul Buckle inherited only four of the previous season's squad. As far as I can recall, only two players, Lee Mansell and Matt Hockley, started the first match of the new season against Grays Athletic, which ended in a disappointing 0-0 draw.
Tomorrow's team is likely to include only Brad Ash, as Moxey and Tomlinson seem unlikely to start, and there surely cannot be many instances, over the years, of teams fielding ten new players in the first game. I'm sure that many supporters who have attended the pre-season friendlies are already familiar with all the new faces, but if I were to turn up at Plainmoor tomorrow I would probably be just as taken aback as I was back in August 2007.
One other thought. I have not followed the details of the new signings in terms of the length of their contracts, but it would not surprise me if the vast majority of them were for one year only. Many of them appear to have come from clubs at the same level or lower than Torquay, and it occurs to me that perhaps Paul Wotton has signed them with the sole purpose of getting out of NL South, and, if successful, he will be looking to sign another new batch with better players in an effort to get back to the EFL.
Whatever, good luck to the team and I'm lookng forward to a storming start to the season tomorrow.
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Aug 10, 2024 7:25:33 GMT
Great to hear from you Stewart! Hope you are well. Exciting new era. Match available to view for a tenner: www.nationalleaguetv.com/ |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 10, 2024 8:11:55 GMT
link - TUFC match preview link - the club have also released details about match day experience, including confirmation that water can be brought into the ground and while it is quite cool, overcast and breezy at the time of writing, forecast is 22° this afternoon so will be felt particularly in a tightly packed pop side!
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 10, 2024 8:28:10 GMT
It has certainly been a year to remember starting with protests as dissatisfaction with the club grew, the shock news of administration, and whether we would be able to fulfill our fixtures, the take over of the club and even that was not straightforward, with two different preferred bidders leaving the Bryn consortium less time to build a team from scratch. Ownership of the club is still changing slightly with TUST coming on board as a shareholder to give both wider fan ownership and greater input into the running of the club.
With the extra substitution slots available, it will probably mean that those choices I outlined in the opening post will probably be more about “when” as opposed to “if” players will make an appearance on the pitch and with it being a warm day and a more coherent preseason than Enfield, hopefully we can meet that count on the pitch but football being football…..
I’ve been looking forward to today for some months now and more so than for many years and just having a competitive team in the same league is more than good enough for me.
COYY!
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Post by stig123 on Aug 10, 2024 8:56:28 GMT
Good luck to everyone. Hoping for a big crowd and 3 points.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Aug 10, 2024 11:45:34 GMT
“ Torquay United manager Paul Wotton has said he knows what his starting line-up will be when Enfield Town come to Plainmoor tomorrow on the first weekend of the new National League South season.
But just as important as the first 11 this season will be the five substitutes, as the league falls half into line with those above. Like in previous National South seasons there will only be five subs on the bench - but a change in the rules means all five can be used instead of just three. ”
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Post by stig123 on Aug 10, 2024 11:55:47 GMT
Let's hope we have fewer injuries than in recent seasons and have options on the bench.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Aug 10, 2024 12:08:23 GMT
Let's hope we have fewer injuries than in recent seasons and have options on the bench. Let’s hope the keeper doesn’t turn his ankle in minute one 😀 |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Aug 10, 2024 13:38:05 GMT
Let's hope we have fewer injuries than in recent seasons and have options on the bench. Let’s hope the keeper doesn’t turn his ankle in minute one 😀 No Booth, is he suspended because of the betting? |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Aug 10, 2024 17:20:43 GMT
Sounded like squeaky bum time at the end ☹️
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 10, 2024 18:18:26 GMT
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